Meeting the New Teacher Again - Part II of Three

I, Jairus, am writing again. 

I had written earlier about the new teacher in our area, this man called Jesus. As a leader in the synagogue, one needs to do a bit of homework around whom we let teach in our synagogue – if we have the choice. As I said last time, we need to protect or Law from misinterpretation and our synagogue and the privileges it enjoys from being abused. You will recall that this Jesus had come to our synagogue one Sabbath by surprise, so I was caught off guard at the time. 

I had asked around and learned a bit more about where this Jesus came from. He was indeed the son of a carpenter, Joseph, and his wife Mary, from Nazareth. He had several brothers and sisters. When I asked about the origins of his family I was stunned to find out he was not a real Galilean, but that his ancestors were Judeans, from Bethlehem in fact. Indeed, when we had all had to go to our homelands when a previous governor, Quirinius of Syria had ordered that for a census – orders that came from the Emperor Augustus in Rome by the way – this family had returned there and that was where Jesus had been born. Could there be something to those rumours of his possibly being the Messiah? I did not dwell long on such thoughts though. If Jesus’ birth was indeed important in that regard, our religious leaders would have found that out already. Instead, I was already hearing about caution coming from them about this man, if not outright questioning of his apparent authority and powers.

Just the same, the stories of what the people believed to be miracles he performed kept coming in. When I actually got to talk about these with some of those directly involved, you could not deny the truth of their story and the strength of their faith in this man. Indeed, for some at least, the performance of a miracle not only changed them in the area of healing involved, it seemed to mark for them the beginning of a brand new phase of their lives. It was like they had been reborn in their outlook, their attitude to life and to our faith. Regardless of their circumstances, and many of these people were poor and came from backgrounds many in our society frowned on – even hated tax collectors and prostitutes! – they seemed somehow happier, more confident, more at peace and content. Sometimes I had wished I could feel that way, what with all the stress of my position.  

Some of them then began to say that, along with the healing, Jesus had told them their sins were forgiven. My ears had perked up at that. This was a new twist. None of our miracle workers had ever added that to their incantations. Only God could forgive sins. Everybody knew that. For a human to say that would amount to blasphemy. Indeed, some of our more prominent leaders I got to ask about this said they were beginning to think what Jesus was saying was blasphemous in these and other areas. He seemed to be making preposterous claims for himself, allying himself with God in an easy and familiar way that none of our other teachers ever dared.

I was beginning to feel pulled in two directions. Part of me said, stay away from this man, he is dangerous, don’t even let him back in your synagogue. Another part of me said, go and hear this man some more, make up your own mind about him. Well, my chance came sooner than I expected. I had heard that this Jesus and his followers were touring around Galilee, teaching and performing miracles. He had evidently even cured a leper. That was something none of our healers could do. Only the prayers of the priests, following the rules laid down by the prophet Moses – well, actually given by God - had ever accomplished that. And this man was no priest.

Then I had heard that Jesus was back at the place in Capernaum he called home. I heard that a crowd had gathered to hear him speak so I decided to chance it and go and hear what he had to say. I say ‘chance it’ because I knew by now that there were those among our leaders who were not in favour of him and might question my presence there as the local synagogue leader.

I had not even reached the door of the home – well, in fact, I could not get near for the crowd – when some sweaty young men carrying a stretcher rushed towards us. Apparently, the pale and twisted body lying on it was their friend who had become paralyzed, unable to walk. They were hoping Jesus could heal him. However, the crowd was so thick there was no way they were going to penetrate that mass of humanity. After some words between themselves and those around I noticed them go around the aide of the house and next thing I knew they were on the roof, tearing away at the straw and tiles! Then, they dropped the man on the stretcher down into the room! A hush came over the crowd and even I could hear Jesus speaking out loudly and clearly to the man. They had surely gotten his attention by that feat!

“Son, your sins are forgiven.” What? So, this Jesus did say those things! I heard some talking amongst those inside but I could not make out the words. Then I heard Jesus say, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? Which is easier to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk? So you might know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” then he must have turned to the man dropped through the roof again, as he followed with “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” Before I had much of a chance to process what I was hearing the crowd parted and a young man, his face beaming but at the same time looking puzzled, as if he did not know what had just happened, passed by us. He was carrying his mat and quickly joined by his friends who had hustled back down from the roof, stretcher and all. They were so happy, slapping him on the back and saying how happy they were, but also thanking Jahweh.

Many in the crowd too were praising Jahweh and saying things like “We have never seen anything like this!”

Some of the crowd was leaving now, among them a small group of men I recognized immediately by their dress and accent to be from Jerusalem or at least Judea. Their faces were stern and they, unlike the rest of the crowd, were not praising God, but instead were talking about how this man was blasphemous and not to be listened to. They were not only saying this to themselves but warning the crowd as they passed through it and left. Fortunately, not being local men, they did not recognize me or they might have asked me why I was there. Mind you, I could have asked them the same. Seems we are all curious about what this Jesus is saying and doing.

Now, I had heard with my own ears some of the sayings our leaders have been concerned about. To tell someone your sins are forgiven, and that you have authority to do this – that seems a bit much. And to refer to himself as the Son of Man. That is a very sacred title, not used lightly. I had never heard anyone say that about anyone I knew, or anyone else for that matter, let alone about their own self. It is only a title one reads in our holy writings.

Yes, and there it is indeed connected in some places with the one to come, the Messiah. Was Jesus really saying he was The Messiah? It hardly seemed probable. He certainly did not fit our expectations in that regard.

I was really no closer to making sense of this all when another Sabbath rolled around and Jesus showed up again in or synagogue. I noticed that some of those same men, or ones like them, that I had seen at his home a few days back, were tagging along close behind him in the crowd following him. Then I noticed that one of our citizens whose hand had become shrunk and deformed was there, right in front of Jesus it seemed. A hush descended over those assembled as everyone watched to see how Jesus would react. They did not have to wait long.

Jesus saw the man and said, “Come forward.” The man hesitated but then he stepped out in front of Jesus. Jesus turned and looked at the crowd, and I saw he looked directly at those visiting religious leaders: “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” A flash of anger crossed his face as he said this, especially facing those visitors. It was replaced just as quickly by a look of deep sadness when no one dared to answer. I don’t blame them. Who would dare give an opinion in front of those leaders, those Pharisees and their friends. 

Turning back to the man, Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand.” People gasped as he did, not only that he was able to but that it now looked and moved perfectly normally. The man looked at his hand, opened and closed his fist, bent his wrist up and down. He was stunned, but then he realized, he had just been healed. He could not contain the joyful grin that spread across his face. He bowed and thanked Jesus profusely. The crowd’s response, indeed that of the man, was now considerably more muted than what I had sometimes seen and heard before. I understood. 

Jesus had placed his healing in the context of the Sabbath and according to our laws, or at least our traditions, that was work and not allowed. One could understand that with all that our other healers required of people to be healed, but with Jesus it was different. He did not seem to do any ‘work.’ He just spoke, and it happened. It was like how our scriptures talk of Jahweh at Creation – everything happened just by his word. Who was this man? Was there something divine about him?

The healed man could see that those visiting religious folk were not impressed. Had he just taken part in something wrong? Was he in trouble? They did not say anything to him, so he just turned and slipped away.

Meanwhile, I could hear those Pharisees, those teachers of the law, murmuring amongst themselves. They were talking about how Jesus was blasphemous, how he was breaking our laws, and that meant he deserved the death penalty. In fact, I heard some of them say as they rushed past me to leave, that they were going to report this to King Herod’s people.

Wow! Things were moving fast indeed. Would they really arrest this man? Charge him with these offenses under our law? I understood where they were coming from but I tell you, I was also deeply troubled. This man did not seem to be doing anything really wrong. Should it not be right to help people on the sabbath? What kind of god would prohibit that? Jesus seemed to say things with such authority. To him it all seemed so clear. I wished it was that clear to me. I resolved that before he came to our synagogue again, I would see if I could get an audience with him. I had a lot of questions. He seemed to have answers.

Meeting the New Teacher - Part I of Three

Shalom, my friends! Let me introduce myself. I am Jairus, and my home is in Galilee, Capernaum to be exact. Capernaum is a busy town on our Sea of Galilee. I am privileged to have the honour of being one of the leaders of our local synagogue. This is a serious responsibility. The synagogue is our local place for worship of Jahweh and the teaching of our Law. We have to be ever vigilant for correct teaching and interpretation of our Law - and staying away from politics. This last is because of the Romans, who occupy our land. They do not stand for anything that smells of rebellion.

Now, especially in Galilee, it seems our people are prone to breeding rebels. Some of these individuals have also made claims of being The Messiah. According to our holy writings, The Messiah is a descendant of our great King David, who will someday appear and free us from all oppression and restore Israel to its former glory.

I had heard of someone who was being referred to as a new rabbi. Some were even beginning to ask if he was The Messiah. But I am getting ahead of myself.

In the first place, this new teacher, oddly enough, was from Nazareth, a small village northwest of here from where no one of note had ever come. That should have been enough to quell ideas of his being The Messiah, as our prophets have written in our holy writings that he was to be born in The City of David, Bethlehem, way south in Judea. I had heard through the grapevine that he had been a top student of our teachers in Nazareth. He had been slated to go for advanced education after his bar mitzvah but then his father died. Instead, he took up his father’s trade of woodworking to support his family. That was quite a sacrifice but also a noble thing to do. The life of a rabbi would certainly have been preferable to the hard work of a carpenter. 

But then, I guess when he judged his family was capable of surviving on their own, he had left home. I had heard about his turning to teaching. He had even begun to gather around him some followers, as proven rabbis do. However, this young man had no track record yet that would have been thought to attract such disciples. Furthermore, these were not young men noted for being students, for their academic ability. They were fishermen! An odd choice for a rabbi if you ask me.  What’s more, I had heard he had performed what actually seemed to be miracles – such as healing the sick and casting out demons. Some of our people claimed to be able to do these things too. However, they had to take training as to how to do this, which was not free. As a result, the services they offered their clients, who were obliged to go through all sorts of rituals, necessarily allowed for the exchange of money, sometimes considerable amounts of such. Well, this man – his name was Jesus by the way – was reported to perform healing and exorcism on first meeting an individual and merely by his word, free! 

People were beginning to flock to where he was on a regular basis. Apparently large crowds followed him at times, seeking healing and freedom from unclean spirits. But he was also teaching, words said to be a powerful message of the need to repent and seek forgiveness, similar to another recent preacher who had appeared in our midst, one called John the Baptizer, so called because he was baptizing people who repented of their sin and wanted to turn over a new leaf. But this Jesus seemed to be adding a new twist to this message. He was saying that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. This phrase alone was enough to make one wary of what might yet come of him.

Thus, I was somewhat on edge this particular Sabbath Day when I saw a crowd approaching our synagogue and near its front, was a man, striding along, occasionally stopping to place his hand on some poor supplicant and, evidently, from what I gathered, performing some healing. Some people were calling out things like, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” So, was this the Jesus I had heard about?

I was at the door of the synagogue when this Jesus approached. He stopped and, raising his hands and turning his face heavenward, seemed to be mouthing a prayer. Such a look of peace and determination seemed to then envelop his face. Then he looked straight at me with a look that was both gentle and powerful. Don’t ask me to explain that combination but that’s what I felt.

He bowed to me with clasped hands, walked in and sat down near the front. I quickly followed, almost pushed along by the throng. I conferred briefly with my colleagues and we agreed that, since this man was gaining recognition as a rabbi, the only polite and correct thing was to let him read the scripture and teach. One of our elders then handed him a scroll, from which he read and then began to teach.

In spite of ourselves, we were quite taken aback by his teaching. He did not go on and on reciting the sayings of rabbis from the past to explain the passage, like so many of our young teachers do. And he was so well-versed in the scriptures, the Torah! He quoted freely from it to support what he was saying. In spite of myself, I could not deny the power and authority with which he seemed to speak. It was actually quite refreshing, if I do say so myself.

Suddenly, he was interrupted by a shout, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know how you are, the Holy One of the God!” We had all turned to look at where the disturbance was coming from and could not help but catch our breath at those words. Jesus was indeed being addressed as if he were the Messiah! But the voice was coming from a disheveled figure in rags whom we all recognized immediately as someone possessed by an unclean spirit. He should not even have been in our synagogue. I was about to summon some of my colleagues to see if we could get him removed. However, before we could do so, this Jesus stopped his teaching and approached the man. Facing him square on he said in a loud clear voice, “Be silent, and come out of him!” The man fell to the floor in a writhing convulsion, shrieking and then lay still. We knew the demon was gone. Jesus reached down his hand and pulled the man to his feet. The man turned in a daze and left the building with his friends. 

The teaching session was over though. Everybody was talking at once about what they had just seen. They were amazed at the authority we had just witnessed. Some wondered who this was and what kind of new teaching this was. It was unheard of to simply command the spirits like this and see them obey. My own head was spinning from what I had heard and seen. Part of me said I had just seen one of our laws broken. Our rabbis had taught that healing was work and not to be performed on the Sabbath. However, before I could do anything further, Jesus and the crowd were disappearing down the road. I heard later they had gone to the home of one of his fishermen followers and that he had healed this man’s mother-in-law. What’s more, after Sabbath was over that evening, the house had been filled with people seeking healing and deliverance from unclean spirits. What indeed was going on here?

The Story of Mary IV: Death and Beyond - Chapter 30 – Reunion in Galilee

Mary was glad to be home, away from those terrible scenes in Jerusalem. It seemed so peaceful in Nazareth in comparison. Now, she just hoped her son would join her again. He had told his disciples he would meet them in Galilee, but had not really said where. All she could really do was wait and hope. Well, she did pray that her son would come home to visit. She had also made John promise that when they met Jesus – if they saw him first – they would tell him his mother really wanted to see him at home. It was actually a little lonely here now, with her other children grown and gone, although they were all nearby.   

She was just stopping tidying up and looking at what she needed in terms of food and supplies to take a break for lunch when there he was – across the table like in old times. Of course, she was startled and for a brief moment a fear gripped her. But then she remembered the disciples telling her how he had been appearing to them, just like a ghost out of thin air.

“Oh, Jesus,” she cried. Jesus caught her in his arms and stroked her hair as she sobbed in his strong embrace, “I didn’t know when or where I would see you again, or even if.”

“Mother,” Jesus said comfortingly, “Where would I go first but home? I know I did not come home as often as you would have liked, but you know I had a task to do. Now, my work on earth is almost done, and I must return to our heavenly Father.”  

“You know, Jesus,” Mary said, “I still am not sure what ‘your work,’ as you say, on earth really was.”

“Mother,” said Jesus gently, “Let me explain it to you now, and I know you will see how everything that happened was planned by my heavenly Father.”

So, beginning with Genesis and The Law, working through the Psalms and The Prophets, Jesus showed how his coming had been predicted so exactly. He told here why they had to go to Egypt, to fulfil prophecy. She had often wondered about that. It had been such a disruption in their lives at the time. There had also been so much fear, running from that terrible Herod’s soldiers. Jesus explained how, as the new Moses, a giver of a new law, of love, he came from Egypt to deliver his people, just as Moses had done. 

He spoke of how God planned things versus what the Jews had erroneously come to expect of their long-awaited Messiah. He told his mother how God worked, so often just the opposite of what people expected. That was why his people had not seen who he was and had killed him. they had just not understood. Even that , as Jesus pointed out, was a fulfilment of Prophet Isaiah’s words about people seeing and hearing, but not really. Mary had certainly wondered about why Jesus had to die that way. But then Jesus told her the most wonderful story of all.

Jesus told her how he could have easily avoided that death, simply by calling on angels. After all, he was God’s Son. Mary could see that. She had seen him do enough miracles to have some idea of what that meant. However, Jesus said, he had to die as the prefect God-man to show that only in total surrender, giving even one’s life, is the way to new and eternal life. Ever since Adam and Eve, people had clung to their own abilities, trying vainly to hang on to the life they had, never totally letting go experience the fullness of the blessings His Heavenly Father wanted to give them. No one was sinless in that regard. Mary certainly grasped that. As the sinless one though, Jesus’ death, because he was also God, took away our sin, our pride, our punishment, our sentence of death for that, and made it possible for us to be reconciled to God again in a way no animal or other sacrifice could ever do. 

Mary’s eyes were indeed opened as she realized how contrary much of what she had come to expect was compared to what Jehovah had actually accomplished through her son. Remaining at home most of the time in Nazareth, she had not heard all that Jesus had said in his three short years of ministry, but Jesus put it all together for her. Jesus also told her some of what was to come in the near future and even how she could be part of that. 

When Jesus had completed his discourse, Mary took a deep breath and responded, “It is still so new, much of it, but it makes so much sense. It is beautiful, what the father has done. It is still hard to accept though, what you had to go through to accomplish this. I will never fully understand your love and commitment, your obedience. You have certainly shown us the face and the mind of the Father in a new way, which we will never forget.”

“And I know, mother,” Jesus said as he stood and moved toward her, “You will be an important part of what happens from now on. But I still have work to do here. I must go and tell my brothers what I have told you. I have to trust them – and you – to continue to carry on my work. I must return to my Father. My work on earth will be done soon. However, as I told my friends at Passover, after I have returned to my Father, we will send our Spirit to live in each one of you who believe. The Spirit will help you remember all that I have lived and taught so you can carry on your mission of being the face of the Father in the world we created for you to enjoy. The Spirit will give you power such as I showed so you can teach and preach in the same way I did, so you can heal and cast out demons as I did. You can do all this now because I, in my death and resurrection, have overcome the evil of the world. 

The Father and I have defeated Satan. You no longer need to fear him. The time is not here yet for the final punishment for the evil one, but once our mission on earth is complete, he will receive the punishment he deserves for what he has done to so spoil what we have created. You have no idea what a beautiful world it was in the beginning and will be again. Someday I will return – yes, I will come back! - to make that final conquest of evil. Then you will see me as the all-powerful King and Deliverer that everyone thought I was going to be now.  Then we will re-establish the order my Father intended when he first created everything. Indeed, it will be like a totally new earth and heaven when we are done with the renewal. It will be the best reward imaginable for all that you have had to suffer in your lives on this current earth.”

“Mother, thank you for everything you have been for me. I could not have wished for a better mother. You have no idea how much I really love you. God knew what he was doing when he chose you. I know we will miss each other dearly, but this is the way it has to be. I must return to The Father, and soon, but, as I said, I will send my Spirit to be with you all and comfort and strengthen you as you carry on what I have only begun. And, mother, remember, as I said, I will come again and this time I you will be with me – forever. It might not happen in your lifetime, but even if you die before the appointed time for my return, and only The Father knows when that will be, I will be with you once again – forever.”

Before Mary had a chance to respond to all of that, Jesus wrapped his big loving arms around his mother and held her in a tight embrace before he was gone as suddenly and mysteriously as he had appeared.

The Story of Mary: Catholic Version III The Ministry Years - Chapter 22 – Jesus’ Family Becomes Concerned

After the incident in Nazareth, Jesus made his home in Capernaum for the most part. After all, this was near where many of his new friends were from. He got more of a welcome in this area than in his hometown. Mary had difficulty getting used to Jesus not being around though. He had been such a pillar of support for her for so many years since his father’s death. All she could do was keep her ears open for reports that filtered back from the area around the Sea of Galilee, and these were becoming more astonishing all the time. 

Mary received stories of Jesus performing miraculous healings and driving demons out of possessed individuals. He had gone to Jerusalem to the Passover and run into some challenges there. Apparently, he had gotten angry at what he saw going on at the temple and upset some of the leaders when he tried to stop the buying and selling that went on with its money exchanging in the temple courts. Mary appreciated his zeal for his heavenly father but she grew concerned when she heard that what he was doing was raising the ire of some of the leaders. She believed that Jesus had the right idea with all the good he was doing for people. She even heard about some of his wonderful messages. But Mary knew enough about the Sanhedrin, the council that basically ran things in Jerusalem, and the High Priest’s family which ran the Sanhedrin, to be concerned. Then, there was also Herod and his supporters, and behind them all, the Romans.

Mary was unsure how to handle her growing unease. She really was not sure where to turn. Ever since the incident with Jesus in the local synagogue, she had been wary of her neighbours. Finally, she disclosed her fears to her sons James and Joseph. They did not have the wisdom and maturity Jesus had displayed at their age but they were grown up men after all and Jesus had been a good influence on them, in spite of his youth compared to them.

James response had been that they should simply go and see Jesus and talk to him about what he was doing. Having no better ideas than a face-to-face encounter, Mary accepted James’ proposal. The family made the necessary preparations and began the trek to Capernaum. 

When Mary and her children arrived at Capernaum, they went to Simon’s home. He was the one they knew best and Mary also knew Jesus spent time here. When they arrived, Simon’s family filled them in on the latest. To her dismay, Mary heard that Jesus was getting so besieged by crowds looking for help he wasn’t taking time to eat properly (John 3:20).

James, being the bolder and sometimes abrupt of her children simply responded to this news by saying they had to confront Jesus and help him rein things in. “He’s out of his mind,” was James’ opinion (John 3:21). Mary had some misgivings about that. After all, she knew Jesus firmly believed he was doing what he ought to do. He might be overdoing it, but it wasn’t that bad. 

Nevertheless, they went to the home where they were told Jesus was staying. Sure enough, the crowds so thronged the doorway as people tried to get in for help and her what Jesus was saying, it was practically impossible for them to push their way through. They asked those in front of them to simply pass on the message to Jesus that they were outside and wanted to see him.

The message was passed along. Those sitting next to Jesus told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you.” 3:33He answered them and said, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 3:34And looking at those who were sitting around him in a circle, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 3:35For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother (Mark 3:32-35).”

When this response was transmitted back to Jesus’ waiting family, James was of the opinion they should force their way in and talk sense into Jesus and get him to come home with them. However, Mary knew her son best. She heard in the response she received that she and her family were best not to interfere further or they might indeed be guilty of keeping Jesus from doing god’s will. She pulled James by the arm and said, “Come, let’s go home.” 

“But mother,” James replied, “What Jesus is doing is not good for him.”

Mary looked James squarely in the eye and said,” I think he does know what he is doing. He might not understand fully yet what purpose he is carrying out, but I don’t think we can or should try any harder to stop him. You know you brother believes strongly that he has a unique mission to complete. I think the best we can do is go home and pray for him, that he will receive the wisdom he needs to do the will of The Highest and that Yahweh will look after him.”

Mary felt a sadness and heaviness in her heart even as she tried to present this idea strongly to her children, perhaps trying to convince herself as well as them by putting this into audible speech. Deep inside though, she knew Jesus was doing what he felt called to do. She turned and led her children back home to Nazareth.

The Story of Mary III: Catholic Version The Ministry Years - Chapter 21 – Jesus is Rejected

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

After spending a few days with Jesus in Capernaum, Mary decided she needed to go home. She had enjoyed being able to spend time with Jesus’ new friends, and even their families. The family of the one called Simon, in particular, had been such good hosts.  

She had listened with intent wonder at the things she heard Jesus sharing with the young men, and not only them, but the crowds that seemed to gather around nonstop. Jesus was getting known. More amazingly, she saw Jesus healing people of diseases and even casting out evil spirits. Sometimes she wondered if Jesus was overdoing it. He hardly seemed to take a rest. It was hard to believe this was her son doing all this. It made her realize anew what all those voices from the past had said about her child. Now, she was seeing it come true. But where would it go? She was soon to find out one of those possibilities.

Mary pulled Jesus aside one morning and said, “I think I need to go home. The children are getting restless. Your brothers need to go back to work. Why don’t you come back with us? Our people in Nazareth could also benefit from hearing your teaching and even from your healing.”

“Thank you mother, for your invitation,” Jesus replied. “I must ask the Father about it. Why don’t you go on home with the family and I will follow if it is his will.” Suddenly pulling her close, Jesus kissed both of her cheeks and added, “You know I love you mother, and always will. Our Father will take care of you. Go in peace.”

Mary turned to gather her children and her things, marveling again at Jesus’ manner of speaking. Suddenly he was a mature man, speaking with authority. Where had this come from?

Not long after, Jesus left that place and came to his hometown,making his way back to Nazareth after all. One Sabbath day, he went to the synagogue. His disciples were with him too (Mark 6:1). People had heard about the things Jesus was doing and were glad to see him. Those who had known him better growing up and knew what a brilliant student he had been, were eager to hear what he had to tell them. They had also heard of the miracles he was doing in the villages and towns around the Sea of Galilee and were hoping they could see some miracles too. 

Mary was told he was at the synagogue and she hurried to see what was happening. She had not seen Jesus for some time and missed him dearly She was beginning to realize how much she had come to depend on him after Joseph’s death. She knew he had ended up at Capernaum and seemed to be making that his home. He was apparently staying at the home of one of the young men Mary had met at the wedding in Cana, a fisherman named Simon, son of Zebedee.

Jesus’ brothers and sisters followed alongwith Mary and they arrived at the synagogue just as they could see through the door that Jesus was standing up and making his way to the front. Doing so indicated he was ready to take a turn at reading. The leader of the synagogue gave him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah to read. Jesus took the scroll and unrolled it to find this passage:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:16-19).”

Luke 4:20Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. 4:21Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.”

Those in the audience were amazed at the gracious words coming out of his mouth. Many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been given to him? What are these miracles that are done through his hands?  They turned to one another,  speaking well of him.  Ashe went on to explain what he meant, his fellow Nazarenes nodded in approval andamazement. (Luke 4:20-22). They believed they knew what it meant to be poor, as many of them were. Many also had experience being captives. They certainly felt oppressed, even under their own King Herod, let alone the Romans. Hearing that it was time to proclaim “the year of the Lord’s favour” lifted their spirits. Was Jesus going to help them shake off the yokes of their oppressors! It all sounded too good to be true.

As they listened to this some naysayers began to question what he said. They said to each other, Isn’t this the carpenter, Joseph’s son? Is ne not the son of Mary and brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon? And aren’t his sisters here with us?”  (Mark 6:2-3, Luke 4:22)?  Whereas just a short time before they had been buoyed by his words, they now began to question how a local boy like Jesus could make these claims for himself. So, they took offense at him. They soon had everyone beginning to discount what Jesus was saying. They had expected him to do some miracles for them but he was doing nothing of the kind. Without such deeds, how could they believe he had any power to do what he was talking of.

As if reading their minds, Jesus saidto them, “No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ You really feel like saying, ‘What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.’”He added, “I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown and among his relatives, and in his own house (Mark 6:4). Let me remind you of a truth from the prophets: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian (Like 4:23-27.” 

When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage. How could Jesus talk of occasions where God had seemed to pour his favour on Gentiles. Given the Jews animosity to the Gentiles, going back especially to the time of Babylon, then Greece and now Rome, this was not something they could accept. How could their God help the Gentiles? Had Jesus forgotten all they had suffered under the Gentiles? The Gentiles had not done them any favours.

How could Jesus only speak of good things done to Gentiles? It sounded as if he was twisting the words of the prophets to make them say something new and different. They really did not know what Jesus was trying to tell them. They only knew they did not like the sound of something they could not understand. It sounded to them like blasphemy, to so misuse the prophets and attribute grace to the Gentiles to God! 

Suddenly they were all on their feet and rushing to the front of the synagogue. Jesus’ followers were caught off guard by this sudden onset of hostility. Before they could intervene, the crowd pushed forward, grabbed Jesus and practically carried him out of the synagogue and dragged him out of the town. The penalty for blasphemy was death and this mob was intent on that. 

Mary was shocked as she saw her beloved son treated this way. She wanted to cry out and tell them they were mistaken, to beg them to let Jesus go. Jesus would never say anything to favour evildoers like the Gentiles. But seeing the murderous looks on her neighbours faces and hearing their angry cries, she felt afraid for her other children, let alone herself. How could they turn on one of their own like this? What if they turned on them, as Jesus’ family? And where were Jesus’ young friends? Could they not have helped stop this?

Mary followed from a distance, keeping well back of the crowd. She saw Jesus’ friends at the back of the crowd, trying vainly to break through to help their teacher, but to no avail. She had to see what was going to happen to Jesus. She gripped the hands of her children and ordered them to stay with her. She saw the crowd drag Jesus to the brow of the hill at the edge of the town, pushing him to the edge of the cliff. They wanted to throw him over the edge! It was obvious they really were intent on killing him. But, suddenly she saw Jesus simply turn back, pass through the crowd and into the circle of his friends and together they simply disappeared. No one could touch him (Luke 4:28-30)!

Mary had seen it all unfold. She was still too terror stricken to really appreciate what she had just seen, that Jesus had been spared. She had felt powerless in the face of these angry citizens. She wished she had not come; she felt especially sorry that Jesus’ siblings had seen and heard this. What questions they would have, never mind the confusion in her mind. What would they think of their brother when they saw how their fellow Nazarenes thought of him. That Jesus deserved to die for what he had said? And how could people be so unbelieving? Sometimes Mary had begun to wonder if Jesus was going a bit too far, getting carried away with his deeply ingrained sense of mission and God’s calling. 

Mary’s heart ached as she trudged home. She was glad that she had heard some people crying out in his defense that Jesus had indeed laid his hands on them and healed them. Mary assumed that had been before she and her family had caught up with Jesus at the synagogue. However, he was not able to do many miracles there, except to lay his hands on these few sick people and heal them. 6:6Jesus told her later, he had been amazed because of their unbelief.

Mary got her children their evening meal but she really had no appetite herself. She was glad for their silence, that she did not have to answer questions about all of this. As she wearily lay down for the night, she just felt exhausted, and was glad for sleep. All she had energy for was to quickly breath a silent prayer to Yahweh for Jesus, first of thanks for his apparent deliverance, but then also for his safety and his future. 

The Story of Mary: Catholic Version:II Another Special Birth - Ch. 15 Back to Nazareth at Last

The family stayed in Egypt for some time. As the days passed though, they prayed all the more earnestly for guidance as to when they should return to their homeland. Then, they received their answer.

The family had gone to sleep one night as usual. They had heard that King Herod had died but still they were uncertain. Then, Joseph became aware that he was again dreaming that an angel was speaking to him. This time he was less afraid than in the past. In fact, he was eager for the message, hoping it would be about going home. Sure enough, the angel spoke: “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead (Matthew 2:19-20).”

The reassuring message gave Joseph some peace and after reviewing the message and what they would now need to do, he fell asleep again. He did not think he needed to waken Mary to tell her now. When Mary woke in the morning though, he eagerly told her and the children about his latest dream.

Mary was also glad for the news. They ate breakfast and Mary fed Jesus. Joseph again went to settle what he owed with the owner of their current home. He also found his employer, thanked him for the work he had and told him about their leaving. Joseph was a good worker and the man was sad to see him go but gave him his blessing and a small gift to help them on their way. The family had sold their donkey some time after their arrival too, as they did not need it in the city and the extra money came in handy. Joseph knew the family he had sold it to still had it so he went to explain the circumstances and see if he could buy the donkey back. Sure enough, things worked out there too. All of this seemed to confirm to Joseph that they were making the right move.

So, later that morning, they set out (Matthew 2:21). They did not look forward to the long trek across the barren lands to Bethlehem but they did want to go home. When they reached Judea, they met some of the citizens and talked over what had happened since they left. They heard the awful news of how King Herod, intent on killing Jesus, Joseph knew, had sent and massacred all the children in the area under age two. He had even pursued Mary’s Aunt Elizabeth and her son John but they had fled to the hills and were saved. In his rage though, when Herod could not find John, thinking he might be the potential king, he had ordered his father Zacharias to be killed for not disclosing where John was. Mary was heartbroken when she heard this. It brought to her mind those troubling words of the prophet Simeon in the temple, the meaning of which she had never understood, but now began to catch a glimpse of, “This child is destined to be the cause of the falling and rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be rejected. Indeed, as a result of him the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed – and a sword will pierce your own soul as well (Luke 2:34-5).” Her heart ached when she thought of all the families who would have lost their sons – she scarcely wanted to think of it – because of her son. She could not believe that was what Jehovah wanted, but that he, being The Highest One, would of course know what was going to happen. She certainly did not anticipate that someday this child in her arms would himself explain this troubling story to her.

And when they heard that Herod’s son Archelaus was reigning over Judea in place of his father Herod, they began to be afraid to go there. The things they heard about him were no better than his father.  The night after receiving this news, while they were still travelling north along the sea, Joseph had another dream. He received a warning that confirmed their fears. After talking things over between them, they decided to go back to Galilee (Matthew 2:22). Eventually, they arrived back in Nazareth and settled once again in their home there (Matthew 2:23). Again, they did not know it at the time, but this too was later shown to be a fulfilment of prophecy (Matthew 2:23).

Needless to see, Jacob and Naomi were overjoyed to see them back. It had been a long time. And what stories the family had to share! Naomi loved learning to be a grandmother to Jesus. He was the most delightful child she had ever known. As for Joseph and work, it turned out that the new king of Galilee, Herod Antipas, was on something of a building spree and, in fact, was trying to turn Sepphoris into an even more important centre. So, Joseph was fortunate in being able to go to work there and did not have to travel so far and be away from his family as much as in the past. It was not long either before Mary’s parents came from Jerusalem for a visit to be reunited with the couple and meet their grandson, of whom they had already heard so much even before he was born. Of course, they were also told the amazing stories Joseph and Mary had already shared with his parents. And they were as pleased as Joseph’s parents to see what a lovely child their grandson was turning out to be. They returned to Jerusalem confident that things were finally going well and all was still in Jehovah’s plans and he was no doubt working them out.

The Story of Mary: Roman Catholic Version: II Another Special Birth – Ch. 5 - Visited by an Angel

(Based on The First Gospel of James sections 11 and Luke 1: 26-38)

Mary went back to fitting into her expanding role as a woman, a new wife, in Joseph’s household. However, Nazareth being the small village it was, Joseph was often gone for long periods of time to find work elsewhere as a builder.  Mary had two stepsons, if you could call them that, James and Joseph Jr., as well as two stepsisters, to keep her company. However, especially when Joseph was gone, these ‘children’ of hers tended to treat her rather poorly. They made her do as much of the housework as possible. They were not going to let her get away with any favoured status, just because she had been raised in the temple and had some kind of elevated station as a virgin before their God. There was gardening to do, food to prepare and laundry to be washed, but Mary did it without complaint. She sometimes wondered why these members of her household treated her this way, what she had done to deserve it. All she could conclude was that they were jealous.

One day she went, as was her custom, to the village well to get water. She was drawing up her pitcher of water when she was startled by the sound of a voice saying: “Hail, you who have received grace; the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 

Mary looked round, on the right hand and on the left, to see where this voice came. Nothing more happened; no one was to be seen. She hurried, trembling, to her house, and put down the pitcher, and sat down on her seat to collect herself. But the voice came again, and this time she saw where it was coming from.  What was happening? She found herself shaking in fear, for there was a strange figure standing at the foot of her mat!

“Don’t be afraid, Mary,” the figure said reassuringly, “I come to bring you greetings,” the being, who seemed to her to resemble a most handsome young man said, “I am Jehovah’s servant Gabriel and I have come to tell you that you are most favoured by the Most High. The Lord is with you (Luke 1:28).” 

Mary was still trembling as she tried to focus on what he was saying. ‘What is this,’ she thought, ‘How have I earned this favour, and what does it mean?’

Then the apparition, and by now she was guessing it was an angel, said to her, “What is more, you have found grace before the Lord of all. You will conceive in your womb according to His word and bear a son, whom you will name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the son of The Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end (Luke 1:30-33).”

Somehow, the angel’s admonition not to be afraid and his confident manner of speaking had stopped Mary’s shaking. She could think more clearly again and what she heard did not make sense. She thought to herself, ‘Shall I conceive by the Lord, the living God? And shall I bring forth as every woman brings forth?’ So she asked the figure: “How can this be,” Mary asked, “Since I am a virgin (Luke 1:34)?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God. And look, your relative Elizabeth has also become pregnant with a son in her old age – although she was called barren, she is now in her sixth month! For nothing will be impossible with God (Luke 1:35-37).” 

The angel fell silent, gazing warmly at her. Mary felt she needed to respond. She pulled herself together and spoke a calmly as she could, the only words she could seem to pull together that seemed appropriate, “Yes, I am a servant of the Lord; let this happen to me according to your word (Luke 1:37).” No sooner had she said this than the figure disappeared. Then she knew for certain it was an angel. 

Mary did not know what to do with this news. On one hand, she was filled with a strange peace, even a sense of joy. On the other, she knew that if she told Joseph’s children, his family, or anyone else around for that matter, they would probably just think her special status as a virgin had gone to her head. She might be treated even more poorly by Joseph’s children. Mary resolved to keep things to herself. But then an even more awful thought reared up in her mind – what would this mean to her status as a virgin? What could she tell Joseph? What would he, his children and the other villagers think if they saw that she, a married woman too be sure, but one who was to have been kept as a virgin, was pregnant? She had learned that there were some people in Nazareth who took Moses’ law very seriously. And the penalty for being pregnant outside of marriage could be death by stoning if you were found to have committed a sin in getting pregnant. being pregnant was supposed to an occasion for rejoicing, and even more so if it was announced by God, Mary thought. But she was still perplexed. She shuddered to think of the  potential real consequences of being found pregnant and tried even harder to block all this from her mind.

The Story of Mary III - Chapter 26 – Jesus is Rejected By His Own - Updated July 4

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

After spending a few days with Jesus in Capernaum, Mary decided she needed to go home. She had enjoyed being able to spend time with Jesus’ new friends, and even their families. The family of the one called Simon, in particular, had been such good hosts.  

She had listened with intent wonder at the things she heard Jesus sharing with the young men, and not only them, but the crowds that seemed to gather around nonstop.  Jesus was getting known. More amazingly, she saw Jesus healing people of diseases and even casting out evil spirits. Sometimes she wondered if Jesus was overdoing it. He hardly seemed to take a rest. It was hard to believe this was her son doing all this. It made her realize anew what all those voices from the past had said about her child. Now, she was seeing it come true. But where would it go? She was soon to find out one of those possibilities.

Mary pulled Jesus aside one morning and said, “I think I need to go home. The children are getting restless. The boys need to go back to work. Why don’t you come back with us. Our people in Nazareth could also benefit from hearing your teaching and even from your healing.”

“Thank you mother, for your invitation,” Jesus replied. “I must ask the Father about it. Why don’t you go on home with the family and I will follow if it is his will.” Suddenly pulling her close, Jesus kissed both of her cheeks and added, “You know I love you mother, and always will. Our Father will take care of you. Go in peace.”

Mary turned to gather her children and her things, marveling again at Jesus’ manner of speaking. Suddenly he was a mature man, speaking with authority. Where had this come from?

One Sabbath day, not long after, Jesus, having made his way back to Nazareth after all, went to the synagogue. People had heard about the things he was doing and were glad to see him. Those who had known him better growing up and knew what a brilliant student he had been, were eager to hear what he had to tell them. Mary was told he was at the synagogue and she hurried to see what was happening. She had not seen Jesus for some time and missed him dearly She was beginning to realize how much she had come to depend on him after Joseph’s death. She knew he had ended up at Capernaum and seemed to be making that his home. He had attracted some young followers and it seemed he was staying at the home of one of them, a fisherman named Simon, son of Zebedee.

Jesus’ brothers and sisters followed alongwith Mary and they arrived at the synagogue just as they could see through the door that Jesus was standing up and making his way to the front. Doing so indicated he was ready to take a turn at reading. The leader of the synagogue gave him the Torah to read. Jesus took the scroll and found this passage:“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and the regaining of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (Luke 4:16-19).”

Then Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to tell them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled even as you heard it being read.” As he went on to explain what he meant, his fellow Nazarenes nodded in approval andamazement at the gracious words coming out of his mouth (Luke 4:20-22). They believed they knew what it meant to be poor, as many of them were. Many also had experience being captives. They certainly felt oppressed, even under their own King Herod, let alone the Romans. Hearing that it was time to proclaim “the year of the Lord’s favour” lifted their spirits. Was Jesus going to help them shake off the yokes of their oppressors! It all sounded too good to be true.

As they listened to this some naysayers began to question what he said. They said to one another, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” Whereas just a short time before they had been buoyed by his words, they now began to question how a local boy like Jesus could make these claims for himself. They soon had everyone beginning to discount what Jesus was saying. They had expected him to do some miracles for them but he was doing nothing of the kind. Without such deeds, how could they believe he had any power to do what he was talking of.

As if reading their minds, Jesus said to them, “No doubt you will quote to me the proverb, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ and say, ‘What we have heard that you did in Capernaum, do here in your hometown too.’”He added, “I tell you the truth, no prophet is acceptable in his hometown. Let me remind you of a truth from the prophets: There were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s days, when the sky was shut up three and a half years, and there was a great famine over all the land. Yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to a woman who was a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, yet none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.” 

When they heard this, all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage. How could Jesus talk of occasions where God had seemed to pour his favour on Gentiles. Given the Jews animosity to the Gentiles, going back especially to the time of Babylon, then Greece and now Rome, this was not something they could accept. How could their God help the Gentiles? Had Jesus forgotten all they had suffered under the Gentiles? The Gentiles had not done them any favours.

How could Jesus only speak of good things done to Gentiles? It sounded as if he was twisting the words of the prophets to make them say something new and different. They really did not know what Jesus was trying to tell them. They only knew they did not like the sound of something they could not understand. It sounded to them like blasphemy, to so misuse the prophets and attribute grace to the Gentiles to God! 

Suddenly they were all on their feet and rushing to the front of the synagogue. They grabbed Jesus and practically carried him out of the synagogue and dragged him out of the town. The penalty for blasphemy was death and this mob was intent on that. 

Mary was shocked as she saw her beloved son treated this way. She wanted to cry out and tell them they were mistaken, to beg them to let Jesus go. Jesus would never say anything to favour evildoers like the Gentiles. But seeing the murderous looks on her neighbours faces and hearing their angry cries, she felt afraid for her other children, let alone herself. How could they turn on one of their own like this? What if they turned on them, as Jesus’ family?

Mary followed from a distance, keeping well back of the crowd. She had to see what was going to happen to Jesus. She gripped the hands of her younger ones and ordered the older ones to stay with her. She saw the crowd bring him to the brow of the hill at the edge of the town, pushing him to the edge of the cliff. They wanted to throw him over the edge! It was obvious they really were intent on killing him. But, suddenly she saw Jesus simply turn back, pass through the crowd and disappear. No one could touch him!

Mary had seen it all unfold. She was still too terror stricken to really appreciate what she had just seen, that Jesus had been spared. She had felt powerless in the face of these angry citizens. She wished she had not come; she felt especially sorry that Jesus’ siblings had seen and heard this. What questions they would have, never mind the confusion in her mind. What would they think of their brother when they saw how their fellow Nazarenes thought of him. That Jesus deserved to die for what he had said. Sometimes Mary had begun to wonder if Jesus was going a bit too far, getting carried away with his deeply ingrained sense of mission and God’s calling. 

Mary’s heart ached as she trudged home. She got her children their evening meal but she really had no appetite herself. She was glad for their silence, that she did not have to answer questions about all of this. As she wearily lay down for the night, she just felt exhausted, and was glad for sleep. All she had energy for was to quickly breath a silent prayer to Yahweh for Jesus, first of thanks for his apparent deliverance, but then also for his safety and his future. 

Chapter 22 – Staying in the Temple

NOTE: THESE CHAPTERS ARE NOW AVAILABLE IN A MUCH IMPROVED, EXPANDED BOOK, "A SWORD SHALL PIERCE YOUR SOUL" from FriesenPress

When the Passover Festival came to a close, the family from Nazareth prepared to return. They all said their farewells to their Jerusalem family, Joachim and Anna and their relatives form Ein Kerem, Zechariah, Elizabeth and John, and set out. The streets were full of people and it was hard to keep together. Joseph and Mary had all they could do to keep their little ones together without being too concerned about the whereabouts of Jesus. They knew he knew his way back. They had already seen him joining some friends so knew he was in good company.

When they passed beyond Jerusalem and joined the throngs of pilgrims heading east, they still assumed Jesus was somewhere in the crowd. However, when they got to their first night stop and Jesus was nowhere in sight, they did begin to feel some concern. They searched the area where they were staying and asked many fellow travellers if they had seen Jesus. Of course, they had to provide a description but it was still all to no avail; there were dozens of young boys like Jesus on the road. They decided they had no option but to return to Jerusalem next morning to find him.

They went straight to Joachim and Anna’s but he had not returned there. Now they were even more concerned, and so were Jesus’ grandparents. This was not like Jesus, to do things without telling them. Mary’s parents joined Joseph and Mary in the search as much as they could, while keeping an eye on his younger siblings too. It wasn’t until the third day of searching they found him. Some citizens had told them they had seen a boy in the temple for the last couple of days surrounded by rabbis who all seemed to be taking a keen interest in the boy.

Joseph and Mary left their little ones with their grandparents and went to the temple. Sure enough, there was Jesus, surrounded by rabbis, scribes, and even some Pharisees and members of the Sanhedrin. Joseph and Mary were not sure what they should do in the face of this august gathering. They indicated to some of the men in the outer circles that this was their son and they needed to take him home to Galilee from the passover feast. Some said, “Well, then you must simply inform these men and claim you son.” The group was so intent on their discussion they hardly noticed Joseph then trying as respectfully as possible to push his way in until he was right behind Jesus. Mary was right behind him. some in the circle started to look at who this was intruding but before anyone could say anything to them Mary had reached Jesus and, touching him on the shoulder and said, “Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety (Luke 2:48).”

Jesus looked up at her, almost too innocently, and placed his hand over hers, “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know that I must be in my father’s house (Luke 2:49)?”

“I’m not sure what you mean by that,” Joseph interjected, “But can you come home with us now?” 

The learned men around them murmured approvingly and some of them said to Jesus, “Yes, now you must obey your parents and return home with them.” Turning to his parents they said, ‘This boy is unbelievably knowledgeable and mature. Take care of him. See to it that he gets the best schooling you can afford. I am sure we will hear more of him.”

The three from Nazareth bowed and thanked the men for their interest and their praise as they backed away from them, with Mary grasping Jesus’ hand tightly in hers. Then, Joseph, Mary and Jesus turned and made their way to her parents to collect the other children and explain what had happened. Joachim reprimanded Jesus gently for the worry he had caused them all and Jesus apologized. He seemed genuinely sorry for the anxiety he had caused but at the same time did not suggest he had really been doing anything wrong in what it was he was doing. Mary noted this change with some concern.

Just the same, they said farewells once again and started over on their return trip to Nazareth. This time jesus’ parents made sure they kept Jesus near and he obliged. He seemed quite happy to be travelling back with his parents and brothers and sisters. Eventually, they all reached home together. 

Mary kept pondering over the strange things that had happened in her life, not the least being this last action of Jesus himself. She still did not know what to make of it all. Nor did she know where it was really leading. However, things settled down again. 

Jesus was enrolled in the advanced synagogue school for promising boys. He loved this and delighted in coming home and sharing with his parents what he was learning form the scriptures. They, in turn, were amazed at what he gained from them, how he seemed to speak of what he read with such authority. He also often seemed to see things in the law, the prophets especially, and wisdom literature that no one else did. He started at the same time to learn to help his father in his trade and Joseph noted that he was a quick learner and did very good work. He soon became a real asset to his father’s business. This made him proud of this unusual son. All told, Jesus continued to grow and seemed to become unusually wise for a boy his age. However, no unusual or unacceptable behaviour followed for quite some time.